Insulated container



April 30, 1929. s, JOHNSON 1,711,115

7 INSULATED CONTAINER Filed June 15, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 30, 1929. E. s. JOHNSON 1,711,115

INSULATED CONTAINER Filed June 15, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m WW.

Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE;

ERNEST S. JOHNSON, OF WEBSTER CITY, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO KNAPP-MONARCH OOH- IPANY, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

INSULATED CONTAINER.

Application filed June 13, 1925. Serial No. 36,812.

The present invention relates to containers of the insulated type.

Among-the objects of the invention is to provide a novel container having separable parts of which the upperpart is of greater depth orlength than the lower part, and the latter preferably a shallow part or portion,

and the upper part being a deeper part or portion so that the heat rising in the upper part of the container will be trapped and held in the upper part of the container above the joining ends or contacting surfaces of the parts, the container being preferably devoid of all openings except at the lower end thereof. By providing the lower. open end at a low level or plane, the upper strata of hot medium will be sealed, trapped and held in the upper part without lossv by, leakage or escape to the exterior and the lower colder strata will be in the lower part where the abutting ends of the parts are located, so that any leakage, if any, occurring at or through the joints of the abutting ends of the container parts, will only be of the colder strata of the medium.

The invention also comprehends the making of the ends of the parts or portions with abutting seating and sealing surfaces which may have one or more sealing ridges and grooves engaging to seal the interior from the exterior with greater facility than a plain fiat surface between the ends. In this way the passage or escape, it any, of the medium in the container through the joints will be tortuous and thus render such escape, if any, all the more unlikely or difficult;

The container is made hollow and of a size such that one or more receptacles,such aspans, kettles or the like and similar food containing receptacles, may be placed in the container, and if desired, one upon the other. Other materials and substances than food may be contained in the receptacles and placed in the container for the preservation of either heat or cold, as the case may be.

In the event of preserving heat in food,

7 the latter may be treated, such as by cooking,

boiling, or the like, in the receptacles in the usual manner, and'when completed, or only partially completed, the receptacle with the food may then be placed within the container, and thelatter closed and sealed. The heat I will continue to complete the treatment, the same as in a fireless cooker, the cheat ascending into the upper deeper'part of the container where the same will be trapped and mainpart of the container being of continuous material without any opening or passages, and also by reason of the insulation contained in the walls of the container. Inasmuch as the abutting surfaces or the joints between the upper and lower part of the container are at a low level, they will be in the colder stratum of the medium, and the hotter medium trapped in the upper part of the container, will not have any chance to esca e to the exterior of the container and will-be maintained therein efficiently.

If desired, any hot objects or means, such as a hot slab or even a heater may be placed in the lower shallow art of the container to give any desired ad itional heat to the interior thereof.

In the case of preserving cold, the cold objects or materials may be placed in the device and the latter closed. The sealing of the joint between the container parts will, together of the parts and a clamping means, such as a band, engaging the flanges so that as the band is tightenedit will engage the flanges and force the same toward each other and atthe same time draw the abutting ends of the container parts or portions tightly together, and will hold them together so that they form a single rigid unit. The container may then be carried about by the handle secured to the upper part thereof. The ridges and grooves in the end, surfaces will aid in efiecting the sealing.

The band may be of resilient metal and preferably has inclined or cam surfaces cooperating with the flanges. to actthereagainst to cause the forcing together of such flanges as the band is tightened about the flanges and the ends of the container portions. The ends of the band have preferably secured thereto a clamping means, in the nature of'a snap lock or toggle latch which when moved in one direction will draw the band tight and hold the same in locked or tight position, and when moved in another direction will release the band so that the parts of the container may be readily separated for the removal of the contents or the placing therein of contents. When the parts of the container are separated, in order to prevent the band from becoming detached or lost, it may be tightened about the body portion of either part or portion of the container.

Other objects, advantages, capabilities are comprehended by the invention as will later appear and are inherently possessed by the invention.

In the drawing, illustrating an embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the container constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof; Figure 3 is an end view of either part or portion ofthe container; Figure 4 is a'vertical sectional view taken through the container and a view in elevation of receptacles located therein; Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the joint portion of the container; Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in plan of a part of the clamping means; and Figure 7 is a similar view of the same means'showing the part in another relation of operation.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, the embodiment selected to illustrate the invention is shown as comprising a container having the lower shallow part or portion 1, and an upper deep part or portion 2, both portions being formedwith inner walls 3 and 4, and outer walls 5 and 6, the space between which being filled with insulating material of any suitable kind such as ground or powderd cork. To the upper portion 2,

may be secured any suitable means by which the container may be carried, such as abail 8, pivotally connected to ears 9 and 10 fastened to the upper or top wall 11 of the member or portion 2.

The member 1 is open at the upper end and the member 2 is open at the lower end and have abutting surfaces 12 and 13-forming a joint between the upper and lower parts 1 and 2. The surface 12 may be provided with one or more ridges 14 and the surface 13 may be provided with a corresponding number of grooves 15, to substantially fit with ridges 14. It is preferable that the grooves 15 should be at a more acute angle than the surfaces of the ridges 14, so that when the abutting ends of the parts 1 and 2 are drawn together, the sealing between the surfaces of the ridges and grooves may be effected substantially along lines or narrow surfaces whereby a more effective sealing may be attained.

At the ends of the members or portions 1 and 2, are laterally provided peripheral flanges or projecting portions 16 and 17, adapted to lie adjacent to each other when the open ends of the portions or parts 1 and 2 are brought together into abutting relation. Over these flanges ma be located a clamping member in the form 0 a band or ring 18, having inclined portions 19 and 20, forming a groove within which the flanges 16 and 17 may be engaged, the inclined portions 19 and 20, acting as cam surfaces against the flanges 16 and 17, so that when the band is tightened the inclined surfaces will act against the flanges and draw the same towards each other and firmly hold the parts 1 and 2 in abutting and sealing relation.

At the ends 21 and 22 of the band 18 are respectively secured, pivotally, a link 23 and a lever 24, the link 23 being also pivotally connected to the lever 24, such that when the latter is drawn by the handle 25 from the position shown thereof in Figure 6 of the drawing to the position thereof shown in Figure 7 of the drawing, the band is tightened about the flanges 16 and 17 of the container, and the same held in locked position,'the link 23 having passed by the dead center of the pivot 26 carried by the end 22 of the band. As the band is tightened it will be apparent that it is the same in effect as a shortening thereof and a reduction in the diameter thereof, so that the inclined surfaces 19 and 20 are drawn inwardly against the flanges 16 and 17, and hence effect a component force against the flanges in a direction parallel to the axis and thus bring the flanges towards each other. When the lever 25 is thrown into released position, the band, by reason or being resilient, automatically releases itself from the flanges and then the upper member 2 of the container may be removed from the lower member 1 and the receptacles within the container may be easily removed.

Another feature of having the lower memher 1 shallow is that access may be had to the receptacles in the container, so that they may be easily removed or easily placed therein without necessitating the use of suspending means or other devices for placing, such'as hot dishes, in place without becomin burned.

When the band is tightened about the flanges, the upper and lower parts 2 and 1 of the container are drawn together so as to effeet a tight joint or sealing of the ridges and .grooves 14 and 15, whereby leakage or escape of the medium inside of the container will be reduced to a minimum or totally prevented.

When the receptacles are placed in the container and the parts placed together so as to enclose the same, if these objects are hot, the heat will rise to the upper part of the container and be trapped within the deep hollow portion 2 and escape thereof will not be possible by reason of the fact that the part 2 does not have any opening or similar feature. If any escape occurs at all, it must be through the joint between the ends 12 and 13, and

inasmuch as this joint is in the colder lower and acting to bring and hold said flanges together whereby the portions of the container are held together as a unit and the load carrying lower portion may be supported by the upper portion.

2. An insulated container comprising a lower shallow portion and an upper deep portion, said ortions having abutting ends provided wit 1 inter-engaging ridge and groovc,-said ends having lateral extensions, and means of engaging said extensions for causing a seating of said ridge and groove with equal pressure at all points of contact and for holding said portions together when the upper portion is suspended.

3. A container having walls of insulating material and comprising upper and lower portions having abutting ends, said .ends having lateral flanges, a clamping band surrounding said flanges and having means engaging said flanges for drawing said ends and portions into abutting contact with equal pressure at all points of contact as said clamping band is tightened, and means for releasably holding said band in tightened condition.

4. A container having walls of insulating material and comprising upper and, lower portions havin abutting ends, said ends having lateral flanges, a clamping band surrounding said flanges and having means engaging said flanges for forcing said ends and portions tightly together and locking means connected to the ends of said band for drawing the band tight when said locking means is operated in one direction, and for releasing the band from the flanges when said locking means is operated in another direction.

5. An insulated container comprising a lower shallow portion, an upper deep portion, the portions having abutting ends, one end having a circular groove, the other end having a cooperating circular ridge, the

angle of the groove being unlike the angle of the. ridge to eflect a tight seal along narrow contact surfaces, and a band for locking the two portions into sealing contact and wedging the ridge into the groove and enabling the upper portion to vertically support the lower portion when the upper portion is suspended.

6.. An insulated container comprising a deep portion and a shallow portion, said portions having abutting ends, said ends having inter-fitting wedge shaped projections and depressions, the angle of the depressions being unlike the angle of the projections, and a band for positively forcing the wedgeshaped surfaces together. l

7 An insulated container comprising an upper deep portion and a lower shallow portion, said portions having abutting ends, said ends having interfitting Wedge-shaped pro-- jections and depressions thereon and each end provided with an abutting flange, and a fas-' tening band adapted to cover the circumferential joint formed by said abutting flanges, said band having portions adapted to cooperate with the abutting flanges to positively force said Wedge-shaped projections and depressions together to provide a tight joint.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification.

' ERNEST S. JOHNSON. 

